Card index



- 1,637856 Aug. 2, 1927. R. c DAVIS CARD INDEX Filed Oct. 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l- H: wa PM R. C, DAVIS CARD INDEX Aug; 2, 1927. 1,637,856

Filed Oct 24. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2,1927.

, UNITED STATES v R'A-LPH 0. Davis, or BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, assroivon or ONE-HALF ro Jenn PATENT. OFFICE.

J. MORIARTY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

cann INDEX.

' Application filed October 24, 1924. Serial No. 745,682.

Thepresentinvention relatesto an improvement in card indexes.

The object of the invention is to provide a card index of simple, compact type, easily manipnlatei'l, with immediate accessibility to any card, and which will possess among others the following advantages: retention of a largenun'iber of cards in'stack in properly aligned position with precise overlap, a visible index for all the cards, access to both sides of the cards, permitted withdrawal of any card from the 'stack ith-out.disturbing its card holder or other cards in the stack or their respective hoiders, permitted withdrawal of card holders and cards from the stack at anypoint without disturbing other holders or cards carried by them, and

permitted addition of a card and its holder to the stack at any point in the stack.

It is my further object to provide each Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a. front elevation of the lower portion of the panel or backing with attached support for thecard holders;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the card holders. T

Fig. 6 is also a perspective of one of the card holders showing the reverse side of the holder to that shown in Fig. 5, and

' Fig. 7 is a cross section of one of the card holders with attached card.

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sections of details of construction pertaining to the retention of the cards within their respective holders and to which reference will hereinafter be made. 1 7

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a backing or panel. This is preferably provided along its sides-*with forwardly extending flanges 2.

Upon the panel are arranged a series of cards 3. These cards are arranged to overlap one another whereby the outer end por-- tions of all the cards adjacent their outer visible index of all the cards.

function also as spacing members for the cards as will later be explained.

5 is the support for the card holders. This support is fastened to the backing or panel 1 and the several card holders are'attached to it. 1

The cards 3 present no special character'- istics-and are like those commonly employed in indexes of similar-type. Each card, however, at a point removed from its inner'edge is provided witha hinge portion '6 on which the body portion 7 of the card lying forward of the hinge portion may turn leaving the inner portion 8 of the Bard between the 7 I hinge portion and the inner edge of the card, fitting within and retained by a card holder; 4, the body portion 7 of the card thus being capab e of J turning relatively to the inner portion 8 thereof and also to the card 8 holder wlthin which the inner portion 8 of' 1 the card is contained.

The hinge6 may be provided in any suitable manner as by weakening the card at this point by a line of perforations '9. -'I

v prefer, however, even when perforations are employed to form the hinge, to reinforce the 4 card on either side immediately adjacent the hinge with some strong flexible paper or material 10 (see Fig. 8), or when this reinforcement is provided, the portions 7 and 8 of the card may be severed. and united by the reinforcement 10 which will then form the hinge between the two portions or sections of the card (see Fig. 9).

Each of the holders 4 consists of a narrow elongated casing of metal within which the portion 8 of the card is contained. It com-- prises spaced sides 11 and=12, respectively, and a connecting integral edge portion. 13. 9

Along the opposite edge ofthe casing the side 12 is-provided with a flange 14. which extends by the edge 16 of the side 11 leaving a space 17 between the flange and the edge 16 of the side. The flange 14 presents an edge 18 and the'extension of the flange is such that the edge 18 will lie about flush with the outer face or surface'of the side 11. Thus formed the holder 4 provides within it a housing Within which the imier portion 8 of the card is contained and from which the card projects outwardly through the opening 17 with extensionover the edge 18 whichefiects a bend therein.

The card is appliedto the holder by slideither end by lateral movement, the card.

- fwhen positioned in. the holder is retained removed ciall 1 portlons 7 and 8 of the card are separate .and the hinge connection is formed by the against withdrawal or displacement in a, vertical direction by the flange 14 over the edge 18 of "which thecard extends. In such case vertical withdrawal ,or displacement of the cardis prevented by the engagement of the top edge of the portion 8, of the card with the flange 14 along an edge'8 from the inner edge of the card (see Fig. 8). In cross section the holder is suchas willprovide a housing within itaboiit equal to the cross section of the portion 8 of the card so that the tion of the card through the open1ng'17 and its extension-over the edge 18 of the flange 14 will preferably come at about the point of the hinge 6, which assists in preventing vertical withdrawal or displacement of the card from the holder. This is espeeflective in a construction where the connecting piece -or reinforcement 10. In such case the part 80f. the card will lie withl is fixed to the backing-or panel by rivets 21.

t ed

- with the backing, spaced therefrom and prej in the housing of the holder and the connecting piece 10 forming a part of the card will pass through the opening 17 and over the edge 18'. The bend for preventing vertical displacement of the card will then redisplacemefit of the card from the holder will also be prevented by the engagement of the portion 801 the card with the flange 14 of the holder along an edge 8' removed from the inner-edgeof the card substantially as shown in Fig. 9/

The card holders 4 are retained in aligned" position by attachment to the support 5 fixed to the backing or panel 1. This-support comprises. a p ate extending lengthwise the backing along its centre and is of a length sufiicient to retain all the holders and permit of their adjustment thereon. The support The support is provided with apart 22 inplined relatively to the backing and from this part there extends a part 23 parallel senting an edge 24. From this edge the g plate-is bent back on itself to form a shoulder 25 lying back of the edge 24 on-the under side oi thesupport. 7

rojec- Each of the card holders 4 is fastened to the support 5 by. a springclip 26 struck from the side 12 of the holder. This clip, when the holder is laterally applied to the support, slips-under .the edge 24 thereof and its ad'acent part 23 and thus becomes attache to'the support against. displacement other than by a lateral withdrawmg move- 'ment. Although the spring-clip 26 tends to holder, but. yielding ,to pressure.

When the card holders 4 are thus clipped onto the support they will liein alignment one above the other in contact with one another. Thus Y arranged they function as spacing members .for' the inner portions of the cards and impart the desired overla to the outer end portions of the cards on w ich maly appeara visible index of all the cards, he card holders 4 are held on the support 5 against displacement in a direction end-- Wise of the support by the undermost' one of the row of card holders resting upon the stops 28 struck from the backing or panel 1, with a spring'keeper 30 slidable upon the support to have bearing against-the uppermostoneof the royi of card holders. The keeper is preferably of bent wire retaining its hold on the support by frictional'engagemerit therewith. I

While the cards fit rather snugly in their respective holders and frictional engagement 7 will prevent their accidental lateral displace- 105.

ment, it is preferred that the cards be laterally retained on either side by the flanges 2 on the backing or panel 1." side in thepart 10 of the card. Vertical The backing or panel 1 is preferably channelled, and it' will be observed,*especially by reference to Fig. 3, that the support 5 for the cardholders lies withinthis channel.- The wholly'within the channeland the card holders themselves will "be held in a position superposed on the backing where the side edges of the cards borne by the card holders will be supported by the backing on either onthe card-holder support. 'VVhi-le the cards are held in alignment in their respective holders by the flanges-0n the sides of the backing or panel which-prevents lateral displacement of the cards, arrangement is made depth of thechannel is preferably such that V i the support .for the card holders will lie whereby the cards are otherwise retained within their respective holders from lateral displacement even when any card-or cards is not receiving the lateral support-afforded by the flan es on the sides of the backing or lie outside the main line of cards. The card or cards thus withdrawn will extend beyond the flange on the side of the backing or panel and is retained from lateral displacement beyond the point of its withdrawal by means of one or more spring tongues 31 struck in from the side 12 of the card holder as may be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 6.

The term card as used herein is meant to include not only a card proper but any paper or collection of papers which might e used within any one of the cardholders.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States.:

1. In an index, the combination comprisinga backing, a plurality of card holders parallelly arranged .and superposed upon the backing with extension crosswise thereof, a support for the card holders fixed to the backing with extension longitudinall there.- of beneath said holders, means where y each of the card holders will be detachably secured to said support upon an application of the card holder laterally thereto and occupy positions contacting w1th one another, and

cards carried by said holders.

2. In an index, the combination comprising a backing, a plurality of card holders parallelly arranged and superposed upon the backing with extension crosswise thereof, a support for the card holders fixed to the backing with extension longitudinally thereof beneath said holders, means whereby each of the card holders will be detachably secured to said support upon an application car s carried by said holders, and means whereby the cards will be laterally retained against displacement in positions in alignment with one another.

3.- In. an index, the combination comprising a backing, a plurality of card holders the backing with extension crosswise there-- of, a support for the'card holders with ex.- tension longitudinally ofthebacking be neath said holders and comprising a plate having a portion fixed to the backing and a portion occupying an elevated position with relation thereto and presenting an edge, means whereby each of thecard-holders will be detachably secured to the elevated .por-

tion'offsaid' support upon an application of the holder laterally thereto, and a plurality of cards carried by said holders,

having also a 4. In an index, the combination compris- -tion turned back from said edge and presenting a shoulder, means carried by each of the card holders adapted to have engagement with the raised portion of said support and be retained by the shoulder thereon upon a lateral application of the card holder to said support, and cards carried bythe holders. 1

5. In an index, the combination comprising a backing, a plurality of card holders parallelly arranged and superposed upon the backing with extension crosswise thereof, a support for the card holders with extension longitudinally of the backing beneath said holders, means carried by the respective card holders on the backs-thereof whereby they may be attached to said support upon lateral application of said holders to said support and occupy positions contacting with one another, means for retaining a. plurality of said card holders in contact with one another from longitudinal displacement 7 along said support and comprising a keeper frictionally engaging said support but slidable thereon, and cards carried by said holders.

6. A card-index having cards and holders v tion may turn relatively-to theinner por-- .t'io'n', each of the card holdersjcomprising a of the card holder laterally thereto and occu'py positions contacting with one another,"

casing with connected spaced sides between whlch Sfild. inner portion of the card is contained, said casing having also a flange presenting an edge adjacent said hinge portion [edge the card extends out of said caslng, said inner portion of the'card having a drawing parallelly arranged and superposed upon engagement with said flange-along; an edge I removed from the inner edge of the card and substantiall at said hinge portion thereof.

outer bodyportion, aninner portion lying adjacent the inner edge of the card and a hmge portion between said outer and inner portions of the card, each of the card hold-' ers com rising a casing with connected tion of the card is contained, .said casing flange p s i a edge.

spaced sides between which said inner porwith a slot adjacent said edge through which the card extends out of said casing, said flange being arranged whereby the edge thereof will engage said card extendin outside said'casing as aforesaid and e ect a bend therein for preventing vertical with drawal of the card from said casing.

8. A card index having a card with an inner portion, an outer portion and an inter- 1 mediateportion on'which the outer portion may be turned with relation to the inner portion, and a holder for said card from which said card extends and within which the inner. portion of the card is contained, said holder comprising a casing having open ends with connected spaced sides and a flange on one of said sides \with extension into the plane of the other side of the casing and spaced therefrom to leave an opening through which the card extends, said-inter mediate portionofthe card occurring at a point just adjacent said flange and said inner portion of the card contained within said holder having bearing against said flange.

25 9. In an index, t/he combination comprising a backing, a lurality of card holders 'parallelly arranged and superposed upon the backing with extension crosswise thereof, a support for the card holders having extension longitudinally on! the backing beneath said holders, each of said card holders comprising a casing having open ends with connected spaced sides between which a ortion of a card is contained and from wlich casing the card extends, one of the sides; of each card-holding casing being provided with a clip adapted to have engagement with said supportfor securing the card holder. 

